2 charged in thefts from Charlton house in foreclosure

Tuesday

Feb 26, 2013 at 6:00 AM

Two area men, claiming to have been hired by a real estate agency to clean an abandoned house, allegedly tried to steal items from the house and sell vehicles on the property to a salvage company, police said.

Arthur J. Stebbins, 43, of 45 Roy St., Whitinsville, pleaded not guilty Monday to breaking and entering during the daytime, larceny valued at more than $250, possession of burglary tools, larceny from a building, conspiracy, trespassing and four counts of attempting to commit a crime.

Wayne Ciabaszewski, 62, of 106 Douglas Road, Apt. 69, Webster, pleaded not guilty to the same charges, as well as trespassing with a motor vehicle.

Both men were held on $250 bail in Dudley District Court. Their pretrial hearings are April 10.

On Friday, Patrolman Keith A. Johnson observed a pickup truck in the driveway of 38 Northside Road, which he knew was vacant and in foreclosure, a police report said.

Patrolman Johnson pulled behind the truck and checked its registration, which came back listed to Mr. Ciabaszewski.

When Patrolman Johnson asked Mr. Stebbins why he was at the house, he allegedly said he was helping “the other guy” clean up the property for the bank.

Mr. Stebbins then called for Mr. Ciabaszewski, who was still in the house, which has a posted no-trespassing sign per order of the Board of Health, police said.

Mr. Ciabaszewski said he had been hired by RE/MAX to clean the property. He said he picked up Mr. Stebbins to help him for the day.

But police called RE/MAX and was told the company had not made contact with the Bank of America, which owns the property. It would need to contact the bank before sending anyone to the property.

During the exchange, a tow truck arrived at the request of Mr. Stebbins, who had made arrangements to sell four vehicles at the property to K&R Auto Salvage of North Providence, R.I., for $1,300, police said.

The back of the truck had been filled with many items, including a small woodstove, horse saddles and various tools.